Game or puzzle.



No. 702,477. Patented lune I7, 1902.

J. PUTNAM.

GAME V0R PUZZLE.

(Application led June 14, 190Li (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PUTNAM, OF CORNELL, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAM E 0R PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 702,477, dated June17, 1902.

Application filed June 14,1901. Serial No. 64,518. (N0 model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cornell, in

the county of Bucks and State of Pennsyl-` vania, have invented acertainnew and useful Improvement in Games or Puzzles, of which the followingisa full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the drawingswhich accompany and form a part of this specification, in which#n Figurel is a vertical transverse section of a device embodying myinvention,taken along the dotted line y y of Fig. 2, the retainingcovershown in place and the device adapted for transportation withoutdisarranging the position of the movable objects contained therein; andFig. 2 is a top view of a device embodying my invention in which theretaining-cover has been removed and the movable objects are madeaccessible for manipulation. The lettering in both liguresis uniform. Myinvention relates to the construction of a game or puzzle or analogousdevice adapted to present movable objects in a recessed space, such asballs or other objects of suitable form, said recessed space dividedinto a series of smaller recesses or cavitiesin which said balls freelyseat themselves, but can be readily moved from one cavityto an adjacentone to Work out the game, calculation, or puzzle, and in connectiontherewith a cover adapted to be applied to said recessedspace and meansfor securing said cover thereto, said cover adapted by forming a closecontact with the upper surfaces of said balls orlike objects to retainthe same in their appropriate cavities, so that the working of saidgame,calculation, or puzzle may be stopped at any stage and again resumed atthe same stage by removing said cover and continuing the operation ofthe device.

More specifically, my invention relates to the construction of an openbox having raised sides, and the bottom of said box divided into aseries of open recesses or cavities in which balls or like objects maybe loosely held by gravity, said cavities being, preferably, eight innumber transversely, either along the dotted lines y y or e' ,e of Fig.2, the corners thereof making a continuous diagonal series of cavitiesfrom each corner to its diagonal opposite, as shown along the dottedline .r of Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this shallow open box are placed aseries of balls or other like movable objects,which are adapted to serveas counters in the game, calculation, or puzzle and which are adapted bytheir size and shape to rest one in each of said cavities, either at thesame time or in succession, being pushed or moved from one cavitytoanother, so that their positions will be accurately placed alongstraight lines, either transverse or diagonal. In the form shown in thedrawings there are eight rows of such recesses or cavities, taken ineither transverse direction,

and in consequence in either diagonal from one cornerof said box to theother. Th'ere are also eight balls, each of which is fitted to rest inany one of these sixty-four cavities. The problem, game, or puzzle, asshown in the drawings, is to so place these eight balls in eight of thesixty-four cavities that no two of the balls are on the same transverseline of cavities, either up and down or across, nor on the same diagonalline, whether from corner to corner or any other straight diagonal ofthe board.

In the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings there are two balls onthe line c x and also on its opposite diagonal. Ilence the problem isunsolved.

A solution of the problem will be found 4when tlieballs are placed alongthe sixty-four spaces, taken horizontally, first from left to right forrow l, from right to left for row 2,

and so on, in the following order: 3,11, 18, 2G, 33, 45, 56, and (50.`

As shown in the drawings the chances against solution. are very great,as each ball must have a definite position from start to finish toproduce the correct result.

Referring to the drawings, A,with its different ordinals, represents thebox, surrounded by a raised rim A7. The bottom is divided into theseries of cavities A3 A3, separated by the ridges A4 A4. For lightnessthese cavities are correspondingly recessed on the under side at A5 A5,beneath the ridges A4 A4 above. These cavities are preferably squarepyramidal, meeting in a point at each center; but they maybe curved orflat, if preferred, and preferably of cast metal. Around the edge be IOOlow, at A6, the rim A7is prolonged downward to form a secure seat forthe cover C and add strength to the box. I make this box and its partsof metal, preferably; but it may be of Wood, rubber, or other material.At the corners are shown feet A2 A2, cast integrally with the box, whichraise the box from the table on which it is used and give it a levelsupport. The cover C may be of pasteboard,`

of stamped metal, or other material. It is provided with sides C' C',which are adapted to t around the sides of the rim A7 A7 of the boxbeneath. lt will be seen that, as shown in Fig. 1, the balls when seatedin their recesses extend just up to the top level of the rim A7 or tosuch distance that when said cover C is down upon said box and its rimthe balls will be retained in their cavities by means of the ridges A4AL1 between the same. When the cover C is in place, it is retained by anindia-rubber band D, though other means, such as hinges or catches, maybe used instead thereof. .The balls when the cover is removed can bereadily rolled about from cavity to cavity, while the rim A7 willprevent their escape from said box or containing-space.

The balls B B B B, the., may be of metal or of other material. Ipreferably color them sharply in contrast with the color of the insideof the box, so that their positions and directions can be readilydistinguished with reference to the rows of cavities.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A game or puzzle consisting of an open, shallow box,the bottomthereof provided with series of rows of cavities, separated by ridges,and a marginal rim around said box, in combination with a cover adaptedto close over said box, together with a series of movable balls or thelike, adapted to said cavities, and extended upward, when in saidcavities, above the same, and said cover adapted to prevent said ballsor the like from being shifted from one cavity to another when saidcover is down in place, and means for detachably maintaining said coverin said position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of shallow box having rows of cavities, A3 A3,arranged in equal series in a square, a marginal rim, A7, around saidcavities, supporting-feet, A2 A2, movable balls, B B, and detachablecover, C C, constructed to rest upon said rim, and said balls, andprevent escape of said balls from said cavities, the whole constructedand arranged substantially as and for the purposes described.

J CHN PUTNAM.

Witnesses:

JAS. CHATWIN, ANDREW V. GROUPE.

